Yesterday Today Tomorrow (Brunfelsia)

How to choose a yesterday today tomorrow

The species, sold as Yesterday Today and Tomorrow, is a rounded shrub that reaches around two metres tall and nearly as wide, a good size for a fragrant background shrub or an informal screen near a window or path. The Compacta Yesterday Today Tomorrow is a smaller selection, which suits low borders, courtyards and containers. The Compacta Variegated Yesterday Today Tomorrow is a variegated leaf form of the compact plant, for foliage interest outside the flowering season. The Sweet and Petite Yesterday Today Tomorrow is another compact selection for small spaces.

Choose by the room you have. The flowers and perfume are much the same across the range, so size and leaf are the real differences.

Where yesterday today tomorrow grows

Brunfelsia is at home in subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and it also grows well in mild temperate areas near the coast. It tolerates light frost once established, though in colder winters it may drop some leaves and recover in spring. Heavy frost will damage it. It flowers in full sun in mild climates, and prefers morning sun with afternoon shade where summers are hot. The soil should be well drained and slightly acidic.

Plant it where the scent can be enjoyed, near a door, a deck or a path. It sits well with other fragrant plants and flowering shrubs, and it is a reliable choice among plants for partial shade.

Brunfelsia is poisonous to dogs if eaten, especially the berries and seeds, so plant it away from areas where dogs play and remove any berries that form.

Planting and spacing

Dig compost into the planting area and set the shrub at the same depth as it sat in the pot. Allow one and a half to two metres between plants of the full sized species, and about a metre for compact forms. For a low informal hedge of compact plants, space them 60 to 80 centimetres apart. Water in well and mulch, keeping the mulch clear of the stem. In pots, use a quality potting mix suited to acid loving plants.

Care basics

Water regularly through the first year and during dry spells after that. Brunfelsia is not a drought plant, and it flowers better when the soil stays evenly moist through spring. Feed in early spring and again in late summer with a fertiliser for azaleas and camellias. Yellow leaves with green veins usually point to alkaline soil, and an application of iron chelates will help.

Prune lightly straight after the main spring flowering to keep the shrub dense. Avoid hard pruning late in the season, because it removes the wood that carries the following flowers. In warm climates a lighter second flush often follows in autumn.

Common questions

Why do the flowers change colour?

Each flower opens violet, fades to lavender and then to white over about three days. The common name describes those three stages on the one plant.

Is yesterday today tomorrow poisonous to dogs?

Yes. All parts are poisonous to dogs if eaten, and the berries and seeds are the most dangerous. Keep it out of reach of dogs that chew plants.

When does it flower?

The main display is in spring, often with lighter flushes into summer and autumn in warm areas.

Can it grow in a pot?

Yes. The compact forms are well suited to large pots in a spot with morning sun.